Automatic repetitive rhythm instrument timing circuitry



D. M. PARK June 7, 1966 AUTOMATIC REPETITIVE RHYTHM INSTRUMENT TIMINGCIRCUITRY Filed June 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet l D. M. PARK 3,255,292

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AUTOMATIC REPETITIVE RHYTHM INSTRUMENT TIMING CIRCUITRY June 7, 1966 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 26, 1964 INVENTOR. Donald M. Park ATTORNEYJune 7, 1966 AUTOMATIC REPETITIVE RHYTHM INSTRUMENT TIMING CIRCUITRYFiled June 26, 1964 D. M. PARK 3,255,292

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ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3 255 292 AUTOMATIC REPETITIVE RHYTHMINSTRUMENT TIMING CIRCUITRY Donald M. Park, Raleigh, N.C., assigner toThe Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware FiledJune 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,093 14 Claims. (Cl. 84-1.03)

This invention represents an improvement over the inventions describedin and this application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplications Electronic Music Circuit, Serial No. 310,533, tiledSeptember l23, 1963, now U.S. Patent Number 3,146,290, and Tempo Controlfor Electrical Musical Instruments, Serial No. 213,934, filed August l,1962. The descriptions in said copending-applications are incorporatedherein by reference. This invention also represents an improvement overmy prior Patent 3,105,106 to which reference will be made.

This invention relates generally to circuits for electrically producingmusic and particularly to an automatic repetitive rhythm instrumentwhich can accompany a player operated instrument, such as an electricorgan, such that various selections of automatic repetitive ryhthmsounds can be combined at the same tempo with those produced by theplayer operated instrument or combined but at an independent tempo.

' One of the more popular electronic musical instruments is known as aside man, and its purpose is to automatically produce a repetition ofpercussion rhythms. The side man is usually comprised of ten or moreinstruments such as Bass Drum, Tom-Toms, Blocks, Cymbals, and the likewhich may be electronically combined to produce rhythms such as theTango, Rhumba, Fox Trot or Waltz. The instruments are producedelectronically by phase shift oscillators or other noise generators, andwhen pulsed according to some predetermined time sequence asaccompaniment for an electronic organ, they produce pleasing repetitivemusical effects. The pulse generation, commutation and distributionnecessary to produce the repetitive rhythms in the side man usuallyinvolve some form of mechanical or electro-mechanical commutation.

In the older prior art repetitive rhythm or side man devices, theswitching speed, that is, the rhythm speed or tempo, when playing anyparticular instrument or group yof instruments is controlled yby aconventional mechanical variable speed drive; This has produced variouswell-known noise and mechanical problems. This type of commutation hasanother disadvantage in that due to mechanical inertia speed cannotV bechanged instantaneously, so as to change the tempo of the repetitiverhythm instantaneously, whereas fast or instantaneous tempo change isrecognized as adding much to the enjoyment of repetitive rhythminstrument accompaniment.

Another limitation of prior art repetitive rhythm devices particularlywith regard to the circuitry which selects and pulses the instrumentsand instrument combinations has been an inability to provide complexmixing of instruments, mixing of special beats and the like. An advancein the art is provided by the inventions taught in the referred tocopending applications Serial No. 310,- 533 and Serial No. 213,934 andin my prior Patent 3,105,106 in that much of the circuitry of theseprior inventions lends itself to rapid tempo change and to more complexrhythms even when obtained through electromechanical development andcommutation of the instrument control pulses. The need has remainedhowever in automatic repetitive rhythm circuitry for improvements inpulse generation, selection, mixing and distribution to the individualinstruments and in tempo control, all of which improvements arebasically concerned with more Patented June 7, 1966 ice efficientutilization of the timing pulses both for instrument arrangements andtempo regulation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a substantiallyimproved circuitry for an automatic repetitive rhythm instrument.

It is anohter object of this invention to provide means for eliminatingmechanical and electro-mechanical pulse generation and commutation inthe automatic repetitive rhythm instrument.

Another object is to provide circuit means for electrically pulsinginstrument generators in an automatic repetitive rhythm instrument whichmeans provides a maximum range in deriving complex rhythms.

Another odbject is to provide in an automatic repetitive rhythminstrument circuit means for electrically pulsing instrument generatorswith which the tempo or frequency of pulsing may be instantaneouslychanged.

Another object is to provide in an automatic repetitive rhythm.instrument a pulse generation, selection, mixing distribution, andfrequency control for pulsing and timing instrument generators which isentirely electrical or electronic in nature.

The foregoing and other objects will appear from .the drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a general schematic diagram of a musical cricuit embodyingthe invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram showing a multistage ring counter anddiode logic matrix cricuit for counting and spatially distributingtiming pulses.

FIGURE 3 is a wave diagram of the timing waves obtained from the counterof FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates a diode logic circuit employed in thematrix.

FIGURE 5 schematically illustrates a combining of diode logic circuits.

FIGURE 6 schematically illustrates an alternate counting and matrixcircuit.

FIGURE 7 is a wave diagram of the timing waves obtained from the counterof FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 schematically illustrates a circuit for cornbining a pluralityof the FIGURE 7 timing waves.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a typical slightly exaggerated wave shape for anNPN type switch.

FIGURE 10 illustrates in slightly exaggerated form the I FIGURE 9 waveshape after being differentiated.

FIGURE 11 illustrates an example of an OR circuit useful in theinvention.

As previously stated, the invention is primarily concerned with thoseaspects of an automatic repetitive rhythm instrument which have to dowith instrument pulsing and timing. Before proceeding to themoredetailed discussion of the invention, reference is made to thegeneral diagram of FIGURE 1, in which represents a continuous source oftiming pulses provided by a y suitable oscillator, the pulses being ofequal magnitude and evenly spaced with respect to time according to somedesired beat. The pulse source 100 is of variable frequency so as togivea variable beat to the music and is connected to a suitablefrequency control 101 which may, for example, be regulated by a manualvariable voltage device 102 or other similar manual device known to theart for controlling pulse generator frequency.

In the copending application Serial No. 213,934, there is disclosed aseparate invention concerned with automatically synchronizing tempo ofan automatic repetitive instrument and player instrument. Since theautomatic as well as the manual type of tempo control may be combinedwith other elements of the present invention, FIGURE 1 represents at 103an automatic tempo adjusting circuitry which may be of the type shown inthe referred to copending application Serial No. 213,- 934 and which asindicated in FIGURE 1 is connected to pick up pulses entering the rhythmselector switch 106 and is also lconnected to the player operateddevicey e.g. the electric organ 110.

As fully explained in the copending application Serial No. 213,934, theinvention of the copending application effectively compares the tempo orfrequency of a representative pulse from the player operated organ 110with a pulse representative of tempo taken from one of the instruments104 in the automatic repetitive rhythm device and as the organ tempoincreases or decreases the tempo of the automatic repetitive rhythmdevice instruments increases or decreases in the same manner so as tokeep the tempos synchronized.

As further explained in the copending application Serial No. 213,934,the comparison and tempo synchronization is eiected by developing analternately positive-negative wave shape from a pulse representative ofthe repetitive rhythm instrument tempo. This wave shape is gated to amemory and the gate itself is ultimately controlled by one of the pedalsof the organ which the repetitive rhythm instrument may accompany. Thelevel of the memory controls the frequency of the puise generatoremployed in the repetitive rhythm instrument. Thus, if the organ pedaltempo is synchronized With the repetitive instrument tempo the gatingdoes not effect the level whereas if the gating lets either positive ornegative portions of the developed wave shape through to the memory, thelevel and consequently the frequency of the pulse generator will changein a direction to bring the tempos of the organ and repetitive rhythminstrument into synchronization.

Continuing with FIGURE 1, the timing pulses are fed from source 100 toan electronic pulse counting and matrix circuitry 105 the purpose ofwhich is to count the incoming spatially undistributed timing pulses andfrom these develop a plurality of wave shapes spatially distributed overa plurality of outputs such that logic theory may be employed in asuitable matrix later discussed to gain a wide choice of instrumentactuating pulses which may be fed through an appropriate rhythm selectorswitch 106 to the instruments 104 and ultimately to the audio sectionrepresented by amplifier 107 and speaker 108. Simply as representativeof instrument grouping there is shown an instrument group of drum,blocks and cymbals. As described in Patent 3,105,106,

selector switch 106 enables individual instruments e.g.

a drum or blocks to be played or a combination of instruments e.g. drumand blocks to be combined into some desired rhythm. That is, once thetiming and instrument actuation pulses are presented to the selectorswitch, the operator merely by manual switching can direct particularinstrument actuation pulses to particular instruments and thus determinewhich instruments or combination of instruments will be played.

In effect, circuitry 105 spatially divides the timing pulses in such amanner that a matrix is able to distribute them in a predeterminedmanner. Compared to prior art and my prior copending applications itwill be immediately appreciated that the present invention which isprimarily concerned with the circuitry 105 provides a completelyelectrical-electronic pulse generation, mixing, distribution and temporegulation system for the automatic repetitive rhythm instrument. In thecircuitry illustrated as exemplary embodiments in the previouslyreferred `to copending application Serial No. 310,533 and Patent3,105,106, it should also be noted that the pulse generator in each caseincluded a pluarlity of physically spaced terminals on which the timingpulses were generated and spatially distributed in a sequence. Incomparison, in the present invention the timing pulse source 100represents a source which produces on an output a continuous chain ofspatially undistributed timing pulses to which the counting-matrixcircuit 105 responds and provides on a plurality of output terminals anydesired repeatable sequence of spatially distributed tone generatoractuating pulses.

Referring next to FIGURE 2, the electronic pulse counting andspatial'distributing circuitry 105 of FIG- URE 1, is made up in oneembodiment of a two ring counter 120 which receives the timing pulseseries on line 121. Counter 120 in turn comprises a first counter groupof twelve bistable devices 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and asecond counter group of bistable devices A B, C, D. The bistable devicesmay be of any type known in the counting art such as a transistor latch,a tunnel diode, a Shockley diode, a Neon tube or another type ofbistable transistor device. All of the first group are connected toincoming line 121 and Within the first group starting with device zero,each device feeds or ands the next successive device until device 11 isreached which feeds back into device zero and also provides a commonincoming time counting pulse to all of `the devices in the vsecondgroup. Within the second group, A feeds to B, B to C, C to D and D to A.From the first group of bistable devices the outputs of devices 0, 2, 3,4, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are fed as indicated in FIGURE 2 to a diode logicmatrix 125 and from the second group of bistable devices, the outputs ofA, B, C and D are fed to the matrix 125. As indicated in FIG- URE 2, theoutput of matrix 125 is fed to the rhythm selector switch 106.

In FIGURE 3, there is shown a diagram of representative wave shapes suchas might be obtained from the outputs of the bistable devices 0, 2, 3,4, 6, 8, 9, 10, A, B, C and D with respect to an arbitrary series of 48input timing pulses coming in on line 121 and labeled 0-47 in FIGURE 3.

Consideration will nextl be given to the matrix 125 and in this regardit may be noted that the matrix generally consists of an array of diodelogic circuits illustrated at 126, 127 and 128 in FIGURE 4. Usingcircuit 127 as an example, the circuit includes capacitor 130,'resistor131, and diode 132. The individual logic circuits of which there may begreat numbers in any particular matrix depending on the rhythmcomplexity desired have many possible forms of interconnection some ofwhich are explained in later discussion.

Negative potential logic is employed which is defined as meaning thatthe timing pulse can only get through when the gate is most negative.Assuming that it is desired to select timing pulse 2O in FIGURE 3. Thatis, we assume that the rhythm selector switch 106 has been positioned sothat a particular instrument say a drum is to be pulsedl at the timecorresponding to timing pulse 20. Looking at FIGURE 3, it can be seenthat at time 20, wave 8 goes negative and wave B is negative at thissame time. Wave 8 at time 2O since it goes negative at time 20 can thusbe used as a time 20 pulse provided it can be gated precisely at time20. As a function we say time 20=f(8-B). By connecting the wave outputof bistable device 8 to the input point 'I` of the FIGURE 4 logiccircuit and the output of bistable device B to the gate terminal G, apulse will be derived at terminal P which coincides in time with thetiming pulse 20.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the timing 'pulses ultimatelyemployed are not, when using the counting embodiment of FIGURE 2, theoriginal timingpulses per se but ra'ther are timing pulses that areobtained from the FIGURE 3 array and that coincide within the count-,

ing-matrix circuitry with the original timing pulses. In

other arrange-ments of the matrix the original timing pulses could begated directly. It m-ay also be mentioned that while AND `type logic hasbeen discussed, OR type may also be employed as illustrated by FIGURES 5and 1'1. Positive potential logic instead of negative potential logicmay also be used. Referring for the moment to FIGURE 11, there isillustrated a circuit for combining a plurality of FIGURE 3 gatingwaves. In FIGURE 11,

l a fixed positive potential at point 150 applied to load resistor 1511enables an OR action when pulses B or D from FIGURE 3 are applied to therespective diodes 152, '153. In this case, there can be fed to the gateG of FIGURES 4 or 5 the pulse pattern indicated at 154 in FIGURE 1l. Theobject of using the FIGURE 1l OR circuit might `for example be to getinstrument actuating pulses corresponding to Atiming pulses 20 and 44 byapplying the pulse train 8 from FIGURE 3 to point T of FIG- URE 5.

It will be noted that the multi-stage counting arrangement of FIGURE 2is effectively a scale of 12 counter coupled to a scale of 4 coun-ter.yUsing the arbitrarily selected sequence of 48 timing pulses perrepeatable sequence, it may also be stated that a scale of 8 countercoupled to a scale of 6 counter would be equally effective as well .as ascale of 3 coupled to a scale of 16, the object being to get a number ofscales which when multiplied together will equal 48. Stated somewhatdifferent-ly the counting arrangements illustrated provide for asequential grouping of scale of plural number counters the product ofsuch numbers being equal to the number of timing pulses, such as 48, ina given timing pulse sequence. The principal concept in the presentinvention is, of course, that of resorting to continuous pulsegeneration and subsequent utilization of counting and logic theory toplace the pulses in time and space where they are needed. One of theadvantages of the invention is that the counting-matrix concept leadsitself to a variety of arrangements and an almost unlimited choice ofpulse selection patterns. IFIGURE 6 illustrates, for example, anothercounter-matrix larrangement substantially different from FIGURE 2 bu-tsuitable to the FIGURE 1 generalized diagram with respect to providingthe electronic pulse counting and matrix circuitry designated in FIGURE6 as 105". In FIGURE 6 certain of the bistable devices of iFIGURfE 2namely devices 0, l1, r2, 3, 4, 5, A, B, C and D are used in a differentsequential counter grouping and with these devices there is employed aflip-flop 170A with a complement input and outputs U and U. Theoperation of the counting arrangement of FIGURE 6 is essentially thesame with respect to counting as the counting arrangement of FIGURE 2except it will be noticed that the grouping provides a scale of 6, ascale of 4 and -a .scale of 2 (6 4 2=48). As frequency dividers thedivision is`by 6, then 4, then 2. In FIG- URE 6 the outputs o-f lthedevices 0, 2, 3, 4, A, B, C and D and the outputs U and U are all fed tothe diode logic matrix 1.25 previously described. The timing wave shapesdeveloped -by 'these various outputs are illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Using the logic analysis previously used with respect to FIGURE 3, itcan `be seen that with respect to FIG- URE 7 if we arbitrarily selecttiming pu-lse 20, 2 wave from FIGURE 7 goes negative at the timecorresponding to timing Ipulse 20. Therefore "2 can be fed to point T inFIGURE 4. We must now look at FIGURE 7 and find a -gate 'which whenttormed only allows this pulse (ie. the 2 pulse at time 20) to gothrough. That is, we must `look for a gate to put point G in an onstate. Thus, D .and U are both vnegative at :the same time. We can writea function =DU which says that when D and U .are both negative, then thegate is on at this most negative time. Thus, by .forming such an ANDgate in simple groups and then making AND and OR groups as lfor examplemay :be accomplished with FIG- URES and 8, it can be seen thatrelatively complex selections can be obtained. Those skilled in the artwill readily appreciate other logic series and parallel combinationswhich might go to make 4up the diode logic matrix 125.

Of particular interest to the use of negative potential logic is thefact that a fast leading edge .of a switched voltage will differentiateinto a larger pulse in the output of the diode network than will aslowly switched volta-ge. The NPN type of switch inherently has the waveshape of FIGURE 9 which differentiates t0 the wave shape of FIGURE 10.Thus, a relatively large control pulse is obtained as illustrated byFIGURE l0.

Therefore, it will readily be seen that if NPN switching choices inutilizing the invention once its basic counting and logic matrix theory-is fully appreciated.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an electron-ic music circuit having a plurality of tone generatorsto be selectively and rhythmically pulsed at given times correspondingto desired beats thereof; a pulse generator operable to produce acontinuous sequence of spatially undistributed timing pulses at somepredetermined frequency, certain cf said timing pulses coinciding intime with certain yof said beats; electronic means continuously actuatedby said timing pulses and providing at a plural-ity of output terminalsa repeatable sequence o-f tone generator actuating pulses correspondingin time with predetermined ones of said timing pulses and selected ionesof said tone lgenerator beats; and means Ifor selectively couplingdifferent ones ot said outputs to said tone generators whereby 'to pulseparticular tone generators and combinations thereof at particular timesaccording to the desi-red :beats thereof.

2. In an electronic music circuit according to claim 1 and including`means `for adjusting the frequency of said pulse generator.

3. In an electronic music circuit according to claim 1 in `which saidelectronic means comprises `a coun-ting and diode logic matrix network.

`4. In an electronic music circuit las claimed in claim 3 in which saidVdiode logic comprises interconnected resistor-capacitor-diode logicelements.

5. In an electronic music circuit as claimed in claim 3 in which saiddiode -logic depends' `on yNP'N transistor switching and negative-potential logic.

6. In an electronic music circuit as claimed in claim 1 including meanslfor automatically [adjusting the trequency .of `said pulse generator inaccordance with the tempo of a separate operator played musicinstrument.

7. In an electronic music circuit having a plurality of tone generatorsto be selectively and rhythmically pulsed at given times correspondingto desired beat-s thereof; a pulse generator operable to produce acontinuous sequence of spatially undistrizbuted timing pulses at somepredetermined frequency, certain of said timing pulses coinciding intime with certain `of said tbeats; pulse counting mie-ans continuouslyactuated 'by said .timing pulses and providing at a plurali-ty of outputterminals a repeatable sequence of pulses having potentials andpotential changes :corresponding Lwith predetermined ones of said timing'pulses and selected yones of said tone generator beats; a diode logicmatrix connected to said output terminals and including gating circuitsresponsive to the coincidence pattern of said potential-s and potentialchanges at predetermined timing pulse times and'being effective to gateto a second set `of loutput terminals a repeatable sequence of tonegenerator actuating pulses corresponding 'in time `with predeterminedones of said tim-ing pulses and selected ones of said tone generatorbeats; and means lfor selectively coupling different ones of said secondoutputs to said itone generators whereby to p'ulse particular tonegenerators and combinations thereof at particular times according to thedesired beats l thereof.

pulsed at lgiven times corresponding to desired beats thereof; a pulsegenerator operable lto produce a continuous sequence of spatiallyundistributed timing pulses at some predetermined frequency, certain ofsaid timing pulses coinciding in time with certain of said beats; pulsecounting means continuously actuated by said timing pulses; a matrixactuated -by said pulse counting means and providing at each of iaplurality of -output terminals a repeatable sequence of tone generatoractuating pulses corresponding in time with predetermined one-s of saidtiming pulses selected ones of said tone generator beats; and means `forselectively coupling dilierent ones of said outputs to said tonegenerators whereby to pulse particular tone generators and combinationsthereof at particular times laccording to 'the desired beats thereof.

9. In an electronic -music circuit Ihaving a plurality of tonegenerators to be selectively :and rhythmically pulsed at given timescorresponding :to desired beats thereof; a pulse generator operable toproduce a continuous sequence of spatially undistributed timing pulsesat some predetermined frequency, certain of said timing pulsescoinciding in time with certain of said beats; multistage .pulsecounting `means actuated by said timing pulses and providing at each ofa plurality of `output terminals a repeatable sequence of Ipulses havingpotentials and potential changes corresponding in time to particularones of said timing pulses and selected ones of said tone generatorbeats; a matrix connected to said pulse counting means and including`gating means responsive to the existence of said potentials andpotential changes at times corresponding to :particular ones of saidtiming pulses and tone generator beats yand providing at each of asecond set of output terminals a repeatable sequence of tone -generatoractuating pulses corresponding in time with predetermined ones of saidtiming pulses and tone -generator beats; and mean-s 'for selectively`coupling ditferent ones of said second output terminals to said tonegenerators whereby to pulse particular tone generators and combinationsthereof .at particular times according to lthe desired beats thereof.

10. In an electronic music circuit having a plurality of tone generatorsto be selectively and rhythmically pulsed `at gives times correspondingto desired beats thereof; a pul-se generator operable to produce acontinuous `sequence o-f spatially undistributed timing pulses at somepredetermined frequency, certain of said timing .pulses coinciding intime with cer-tain of said beats; means for Iadjusting the frequency ofsaid pulse generator in accordance with :the tempo of a separateoperator played music instrument; electronic means comprising amulti-stage ring counting and diode logic network actuated by saidtiming pulses and providing at a plurality of output terminals arepeatable sequence off tone generator actuating pulses `correspondingin time with predetermined ones of `said tim-ing pulses and tonegenerator beats; means for selectively couplingjdifferent ones of saidoutputs to said tone `generators whereby t-o pulse particular tonegenerators land combinations thereof at particular times according tothe desired beats thereof.

11. In au electronic music circuit having a plurality of tone generatorsto be selectively and rhythmically pulsed at given times correspondingto 'desired beats thereof; a pulse generator operable to produce acontinuous sequence of spatially undistributed timing pulses at somepredetermined frequency, certain of said timing pulses coinciding intime with certain of said beats; multi-sequential stage pulse countingmeans coupled yto said pulse generator land yactuated by said timingpulses; a dioderesistor-capacitor logic matrix connected to selectedstages of said pulse counting means `and providing at each of aplurality of output :terminals 4a repeatable sequence of tone generatoractuating pulses corresponding in time with predetermined ones of saidtim-ing pulses and tone generator beats; and means for selectivelycoupling different ones of said outputs to said tone generators wherebyto pulse particular tone generators and combinations thereof atparticular times according to the desired beats thereof.

12. In an electronic music circuit having a plurality of tone generatorsto be selectively and rhythmically pulsed at given times correspondingto desired beats thereof; a pulse generator operable to produce acontinuous sequence `of spatially -undistriibuted timing pulses at somepredetermined frequency, certain of said timing pulses coniciding in'time with certain of said beats; sequential counting means coupled tosaid pulse generator and `actuated by said timing pulses and providingat each of a plurality of output terminals Ia repeatable sequence ofpulses having potentials .and potential changes corresponding in time toparticular ones of said timing pulses and tone generator beats; a matrixconnected to said pulse counting means and including gating meansresponsive to the existence of said potentials and potential changes `attimes corresponding to particular ones of said timing pulses and tonegenerator :beats and providing at each of a second set of outputterminals a repeatable sequence of `tone generator `actuat-ing pulsescorresponding in time with predetermined ones of said timing pulses andtone generator beats; and ymeans ior selectively coupling different onesof 4said second output terminals to said tone generators whereby topulse particular tone generators and combinations thereof `at particulartimes.

i3. In an electronic music circuit -as claimed in claim 12 in which saidsequential counting means comprises a scale of counter of a tlrst pluralnumber such as 12 coupled to said pulse generator and a second scale ofcounter of a second plural number such `as 4, the product of t-he iirstand second plural numbers being equal to the number of said timingpulses, such as 48, in a given timing pulse sequence.

'14. In an electronic music circuit as claimed in claim l2 in which saidsequential counting means comprises a succession of coupled scale ofplural number counters the product of such numbers being equal to thenumber of said timing pulses in a given ytiming pulse sequence.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,243 9/ 1952Burkhart et al. 3,105,106 9/1963 Park 84-1103 3,140,336 7/1964 CampbellM `84-1.03

OTHER REFERENCES ARTHUR GAUSS, Primary Examiner. I. C. EDELL, AssistantExaminer.

1. IN AN ELECTRONIC MUSIC CIRCUIT HAVING A PLURALITY OF TONE GENERATORSTO BE SELECTIVELY AND RHYTHEMICALLY PULSED AT GIVEN TIMES CORRESPONDINGTO DESIRED BEATS THEREOF; A PULSE GENERATOR OPERABLE TO PRODUCE ACONTINUOUS SEQUENCE OF SPATIALLY UNDISTRIBUTED TIMING PULSES AT SOMEPREDETERMINED FREQUENCY, CERTAIN OF SAID TIMING PULSES COINCIDING INTIME WITH CERTAIN OF SAID BEATS; ELECTRONIC MEANS CONTINUOUSLY ACTUATEDBY SAID TIMING PULSES AND PROVIDING AT A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT TERMINALS AREPEATTABLE SEQUENCE OF TONE GENERATOR ACTUATING PULSES CORRESPONDING INTIME WITH PREDETERMINED ONES OF SAID TIMING PULSES AND SELECTED ONES OFSAID TONE GENERATOR BEATS;